News Ticker

ROBYN’S, Leipzig’s first robot restaurant, has opened at the Promenaden Hauptbahnhof. The innovative concept combines digital ordering processes with a robot-assisted kitchen where meals are prepared fresh and in full view of guests. With the arrival of ROBYN’S, ECE gains an eye-catching dining concept that creates new reasons to visit and strengthens the location’s position as an innovative destination for experiences and shopping. At the same time, the opening underscores ECE’s commitment to embracing future trends early on and bringing them to life for customers at its locations.

A huge crowd turned out for the opening: around 100 LEGO fans were already waiting outside the new shop at the Main-Taunus-Zentrum (MTZ) in Sulzbach before it opened. With around 200 square metres of sales area, LEGO is strengthening its presence within the ECE portfolio and adding another major crowd-puller to the center’s tenant mix. The MTZ is benefiting from its high appeal, which has recently increased further thanks, amongst other things, to the Food Garden and its DGNB Gold certification. Further LEGO openings in ECE centers are already planned, and negotiations for additional locations are underway.

Daily footfall is currently 7 per cent higher than the previous year, and turnover is also showing a positive trend. New brands such as Pull & Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius, further planned store openings and numerous refurbishments are enhancing the center’s appeal. The center’s 15th anniversary will be celebrated together with visitors, business partners and tenants.

Whether it’s NORMAL, Søstrene Grene, Lager 157, H&M or Bestseller: Scandinavian retail companies have been successfully shaping the European retail landscape for years. With clear concepts, a strong focus on the customer and consistent brand management, they capture the spirit of the times and drive innovation in the retail sector.

For ECE, therefore, looking to Scandinavia is of particular importance. Long-standing partnerships with companies such as H&M and Bestseller have already resulted in numerous successful site developments in Germany and across Europe. At the same time, the region offers valuable insights into new brands, trends and expansion strategies.

At NCSC Retail Connect in Stockholm, business sectors come together to shape the future of retail. For ECE, this is an important platform for strengthening existing partnerships, forging new contacts and gaining fresh impetus for the further development of its center portfolio.

Skyline Plaza continues its transformation: with Bershka, the Frankfurt shopping centre is gaining another international trend-setting brand and specifically strengthening its fashion offering for a young, trend-conscious target group. The new opening forms part of the ongoing repositioning, which includes an optimised tenant mix, new concepts and comprehensive modernisation. The redesigned mall areas enhance the visitor experience and underline Skyline Plaza’s long-term vision in Frankfurt’s Europaviertel. This development is made possible by close collaboration between asset management, lettings, centre management, architecture and project management.

With the opening of its 500th store worldwide at the La Cartiera shopping centre in Pompeii, Primark is strengthening its presence in Europe and is now represented in all centres managed by ECE Italia. The new outlet covers around 3,600 m² of retail space. At the same time, the partnership between Primark and ECE continues to grow: following the recent opening at Forum Koszalin, another store has already been announced for next year at Galeria Kaskada in Szczecin. The fashion retailer is thus consistently pursuing its expansion strategy in ECE centres.

The Leo-Center in Leonberg is expanding its tenant mix with a number of new concepts. Following the recent openings of New Yorker, Schnitzelparadies, Street One/Cecil and Lazaros, Müller, Takko, Merak Burger & Balkan Grill and Coffee Berry are set to follow in the coming months.

This positive trend is also reflected in the figures: since the end of 2024, the leasing rate has risen by around 15 per cent, with a total of approximately 7,400 square metres of space already subject to new leasing.

With Bath & Body Works, we are adding one of the most exciting international players in the fragrance and bodycare sector to our portfolio. The premises on the ground floor of the Rhein-Center Cologne were handed over in June 2026, and the opening is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

The concept represents an internationally successful retail model with a focus on body care, scents and home fragrances – combined with strong brand presentation and high product turnover. Strategically, this deal marks an important step: it is Bath & Body Works’ first flagship store in the ECE portfolio.

This enables us to strengthen our international tenant portfolio in a targeted manner and expand our position as a platform for the expansion of global concepts. We are a key partner, particularly for selectively expanding brands that have a focus on prime sites. At the same time, discussions are already underway regarding further sites in Germany – a clear sign of further growth potential and our international acquisition ambitions.

Together with the Max Mara Fashion Group, we are bringing a new international fashion concept to Germany for the first time: Intrend is opening its first German store at the Olympia Mall in Munich. The space, covering around 800 m² across two floors, was handed over today, with the opening scheduled for the Christmas shopping season.

Intrend, operated by Diffusione Tessile and part of the Max Mara Group, offers premium fashion at attractive prices. The concept, which is already established in several European countries, is marking its entry into the German market with the OEZ.

From a letting perspective, too, the deal is particularly significant: the space at the OEZ, with its two floors and limited retail layout, posed significant challenges for the concept. The fact that we were nevertheless able to secure the brand for this site demonstrates the center’s appeal and the close collaboration throughout the entire negotiation process, which began around two years ago. Strategically, the deal clearly supports our international acquisition strategy: we are once again positioning ourselves as a key partner for the market entry of international brands and are further expanding our network within globally active retail groups.

New Yorker’s strong performance is by no means a secret in the market any longer – and thus creates further potential for joint growth within our portfolio, which currently comprises 59 stores in ECE centers.

At the Forum Mittelrhein in Koblenz, the fashion retailer is expanding to around 2,700 m² by relocating within the center, thereby more than doubling its floor space. The new layout lays the foundations for long-term success at the site.

We are also consistently pursuing this approach at the Rhein-Galerie in Ludwigshafen: through the planned relocation, New Yorker is responding to changing requirements and developing the site in a targeted manner. The new space of around 2,300 m² – formerly occupied by ZARA – enables the implementation of the very latest shopfitting concept. In doing so, we are sending a clear message: adjustments to retail space open up new opportunities. Even after major international brands have vacated their premises, this creates attractive, sustainable solutions for tenants and sites.

With the rollout of the new Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) system, ECE has reached an important milestone in the digitalisation of technical centre management. The system centralises complex regulatory requirements and translates them into standardised digital processes.

Around 2,000 sets of regulations, comprising some 56,000 operator obligations, will in future be managed via the platform. Inspections, maintenance and compliance tasks can be planned, tracked and fully documented automatically.

For centre owners, this means greater transparency regarding deadlines, responsibilities and risks, as well as enhanced operational reliability. At the same time, standardised processes ensure consistent implementation across the entire portfolio. CAFM thus lays the foundation for efficient, scalable and future-proof property management and supports the long-term preservation of asset value.

This is a major milestone for the high street retail sector: we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Xiaomi Technology to explore a strategic partnership in Germany. Together, we aim to drive forward Xiaomi’s expansion in the German retail sector. The focus is on traditional Xiaomi stores, smart experience zones and innovative concepts centred on smart mobility and the automotive sector.

The outlook: a significant number of Xiaomi stores in ECE shopping centers over the next few years. The partnership highlights two key market trends:

- International brands continue to invest in a physical presence

- Shopping centers are increasingly evolving into platforms for technology, innovation and new customer experiences

For ECE, the planned collaboration is further evidence of our position as the partner of choice for international expansion and forward-looking retail concepts in Europe. We look forward to exploring the next steps together with Xiaomi and unlocking new potential for customers, centers and brands.

The Food Garden at the Main-Taunus Zentrum Sulzbach (MTZ) has been awarded a gold certificate by the DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) for new buildings. The DGNB performs a holistic valuation of the sustainability of a property – from environmental and economic aspects, through socio-cultural and functional quality, to technology, processes and site. The Gold award therefore signifies a demonstrably high overall standard of quality, rather than merely individual sustainable measures.

The certificate was presented on site by Ralf Pimiskern to Hans-Peter Kneip, CEO of Deutsche EuroShop. Deutsche EuroShop AG is one of the two owners of the MTZ. The award confirms the shared commitment of ECE and the owners to combine a high quality of stay with sustainable site development.

A key element of the sustainability concept is the resource-efficient timber construction using regional CLT timber. The Food Garden also utilises a climate-friendly energy concept featuring heat pumps and makes a complete waiver of the use of fossil fuels.

This is complemented by measures to promote biodiversity, including native planting and a green roof. Sustainable water management and low-pollutant building materials round off the concept.

The retail market remains dynamic – and this is also reflected in our leasing figures. In the first half of 2026, ECE leased more than 350,000 m² of space and concluded around 1,250 lease contracts. In Germany alone, this accounted for over 250,000 m² and around 850 lease contracts.

What is particularly interesting is that these figures clearly reveal current market trends.

- International retail concepts are continuing their expansion across national borders – for example, Lager 157, Xiaomi and Miniso.

- Non-food discounters such as Action, Woolworth and Normal A/S are continuing to grow and are opening new sites.

- In Gastronomy, hype-driven concepts such as Honest Kebap and Cookie Couture (set to open at the Main-Taunus Zentrum) are injecting new momentum.

- More and more international brands are choosing to enter the European market.

London demonstrates the direction in which modern cities can develop: away from individual properties – towards liveable districts and strong neighborhoods. At the next – powered by Drees & Sommer European Building Bridges Forum, leading figures from the property sector discussed how the transformation of existing assets is shaping the future of our cities.

Marc Blum, Director of Creative Design at ECE, offered a clear perspective: “Our centers are increasingly evolving into social community hubs that bring people together and create added value for their surroundings. The ongoing development of existing sites ensures that they will remain an important part of their neighbourhoods in the future.” This is no longer just about buildings, but about places that are relevant to local people. Sustainability plays a central role here – ecologically, economically and socially in equal measure. It is precisely this holistic approach that is crucial if we want to make cities more liveable.

International expansion remains a key driver of growth for our business: in 2025 alone, we signed 51 contracts with national and international retail concepts and conducted marketing for around 15,000 m² of space. By way of comparison, 45 deals were concluded in 2023 and 2024 combined.

Successful examples include the continued expansion of UOUOROSE from China, which now has five stores in ECE centers; the growth of the Swedish fashion retailer Lager 157; and the opening of Hatstore’s first ECE site in the Europa Passage in Hamburg. The Spanish jewellery and accessories concept Miramira is also strengthening our international brand diversity with two new stores in Turkey.

These developments demonstrate that a targeted mix of national and international brands enhances the appeal of our centers and contributes to sustainable growth and leasing success.

The Alstertal mall is taking the next logical step in its development: with the erection of the crane, the first major construction phase aimed at the structural reorganisation of the center is set to begin in the coming days. To kick things off, the escalator in front of Galeria on the ground floor will be re-aligned, followed by the raising of the roof on the second floor. Here, a new atrium will be created, providing more natural light and additional space for modern, double-storey shop fronts.

At the same time, the offer of shops in the center is also evolving: Lindt will complement the AEZ’s delicatessen offer with its new opening in late summer. Twinkle has already opened with a new shop concept in the basement, and Alligator followed suit in June, also in a new space. In July, dm and ciao bella will also launch their modernised stores.

At the end of May, Skyline Plaza reached the next milestone in its development: construction work on the new rooftop padel tennis courts began with a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. Under the name “JPadel Skyline” and with the support of JPadel’s owner, Landmarken AG, one of Frankfurt’s most centrally located padel facilities is set to be developed on the center’s roof garden by spring 2027 – including direct access to Gastronomy via a new express elevator. At the same time, the center’s transformation is also progressing: with COOOL!, over 500 m² of new entertainment space was opened at the start of May. Further strategic changes will follow shortly – including a new dm store, the expansion of MANGO and the opening of a New Yorker store covering over 1,200 m² in September.

In total, ownership ECE and Allianz, represented by PIMCO Prime Real Estate, are investing more than 35 million euros in the center’s comprehensive modernisation. Skyline Plaza is thus being systematically developed into an urban lifestyle destination in the Europa-Viertel.

The Polish shopping centre market is undergoing a phase of qualitative consolidation. Rather than new buildings, the focus is on modernising existing sites, optimising letting strategies and strategic tenant mix management. ECE Marketplaces currently manages eight centers in Poland, with around 450,000 m² of rental space and just under 1,500 shops.

The repositioning is proving effective: At the Felicity Lublin mall, footfall rose by an average of 10 per cent following the opening of a new food court and the arrival of Primark. The food and leisure sectors, in particular, are gaining in importance. At the same time, the health, textiles and sports business sectors are becoming increasingly significant within the tenant mix.

At portfolio level, the key figures also showed a positive trend: in 2025, the Polish centers managed by ECE achieved a 6.3 per cent year-on-year increase in turnover, with footfall rising by 0.5 per cent.

The Italian retail property market is currently more dynamic than it has been for a long time, as was evident at MAPIC Italy 2026 in Milan. Driven by growing interest from international investors, this highly fragmented market requires a new, more proactive and partnership-based approach to management.

What is in demand today are not so much traditional services as integrated partnerships that combine expertise, operational strength and market access. This is precisely where ECE comes in, creating added value through close collaboration with investors and retailers, as well as the targeted use of leasing and tenant mix.

The existing portfolio demonstrates that this approach works: at the La Cartiera center in Pompei, the arrival of Primark has resulted in a leasing rate of over 98 per cent, whilst simultaneously creating a clear point of differentiation.

Italy remains an important growth market for ECE, which the company is actively developing further using local expertise.

On the eve of MAPIC Italy, the second ECSP Summit took place in Milan, hosted by the Italian association CNCC. A special moment was the tribute paid to Joanna Fisher for her instrumental contribution to the establishment of the ECSP.

In her opening address, she emphasised that the business sectors can only overcome current and future challenges by working together. The increasing demands – economic, environmental and social – make a strong, united voice in Europe essential.

The ECSP is already making an impact, for example through progress in the area of sustainability (including Article 14 on mobility) and through practical guidelines such as the Green Lease and Security Guidelines. Key topics such as the EPBD and the growing importance of safety in shopping centers were also discussed.

Another focus was on fair competition in the European market. The clear demand: equal rules, equal checks and equal consequences for all market participants.

The key message: the type of industry is omnichannel – but it needs a level playing field. Cooperation and a strong European voice remain crucial. ECE will continue to play an active role in this regard.

Huge turnout for the opening: More than 100 visitors queued outside the shop last week to mark the launch of Cookie Couture at the Thier-Galerie in Dortmund; around 700 customers were recorded throughout the day. With this new concept, the center gains a high-profile tenant which, with its creative products and via social media (more than 33,000 followers on Instagram), specifically targets a young demographic and further strengthens the tenant mix.

The brand combines American cookie culture with French patisserie and German baking craftsmanship – and thus perfectly captures the spirit of the times in urban food concepts. For the Thier-Galerie, leasing this new tenant marks a further step in its consistent alignment with young, trend-conscious target groups – last year, for instance, the young fashion Segment was significantly strengthened by the openings of PULL&BEAR, BERSHKA and Stradivarius.

In the latest EHI Retail Institute Shopping Centre Report 2026, our Director of Leasing Services, Tim Köhler, explains how the transformation of former department store spaces can be successfully achieved in practice – and why shopping centres are particularly well-suited to this. In the ECE portfolio alone, around 80,000 square metres of former department store space has been successfully repositioned in recent years. Developments such as the ‘Food Garden’ at the Main-Taunus-Zentrum demonstrate the impact, with a 15 per cent increase in footfall and a significant rise in turnover following its opening.
At the same time, the tenant mix is being deliberately diversified – in Sulzbach, for instance, by increasing the proportion of catering outlets from 2.5 per cent to around 7 per cent – or supplemented with sought-after brands and concepts. Examples include Decathlon, Peek & Cloppenburg* Düsseldorf and Smyths Toys Superstores at the Franken-Center in Nuremberg. New anchor tenants and concepts are thus creating sustainable, future-proof sites. A clear example of how active asset management and forward-looking leasing planning create real added value. Highly recommended reading!

Read the full article

The 2026 Property Industry Day has once again highlighted the importance of dialogue between the business sectors, politicians and academia. The clear message is that Germany needs simpler, more decisive and faster regulatory frameworks.

There were few concrete statements from politicians regarding the Building Modernisation Act. This makes the work of the ZIA – in which Maria Hill also plays a key role – all the more important, particularly with regard to MEPS and energy performance certificates. Many of the ZIA’s demands are already reflected in the cabinet draft, for example concerning minimum energy efficiency standards, energy performance certificates, charging infrastructure and primary energy factors.

At the same time, critical issues remain, particularly with regard to regulation and bureaucracy. The type of industry is calling for greater simplicity and trust in market participants.

ECE continues to play an active role in strengthening the perspective of retail property – including at European level, for example within the framework of the ECSP.

The scent of chocolate is in the air – at several sites at once. Over the past year and a half, Lindt & Sprüngli has continued its expansion strategy in the high street retail sector in collaboration with us, launching numerous new stores: Following the successful opening of the new boutique at the PROMENADEN Hauptbahnhof Leipzig, further outlets followed at the Main-Taunus-Zentrum and the Galeria Bałtycka in Gdańsk, before another upgrade to the tenant mix was carried out in April with the new store at the Ernst-August-Galerie in Hanover. The tenant mix has been realized.

The trusting partnership between ECE and Lindt will continue to be strengthened in the future, as the next site is already in the pipeline. Strong brands and attractive retail sites complement each other perfectly when quality, surroundings and target audience align – a collaboration that leaves you wanting more.

At the 15th Retail and Real Estate Summit last Tuesday, ECE Türkiye highlighted the direction in which the business sectors are heading, under the theme ‘Interaction, Change, Transformation’:

Towards an integrated ecosystem in which digitalisation, experience-oriented concepts and data-driven management are the key success factors.

At the event, ECE Türkiye’s Managing Directors, Semet Yolaç Canlıel and Nuri Sapkaci, provided insights into strategic briefs and market dynamics. This perspective was complemented by our CEO, Joanna Fisher, who put the sector’s European development into context, and by economist Devrim Akyıl, who provided valuable insights by examining global trends and macroeconomic factors.

As with our Investors’ Day last April, the focus was on the interaction between all stakeholders. After all, sustainable success arises where investors, retailers and visitors alike benefit.

All in the same boat, looking ahead: the ECE Investors Day 2026 at the Hamburg and Germania Rowing Club demonstrated that, now more than ever, the transformation of retail property hinges on successful collaboration between owners, banks, operators and retailers.

In his inspiring keynote speech, business journalist Horst von Buttlar made it clear right from the start: transformation should not be seen as a loss, but as an opportunity. He noted that Germany possesses strong innovative capacity and numerous areas of growth – the key is to make consistent use of these and to focus more strongly on progress and implementation.

Our CEO, Joanna Fisher, elaborated on this message, noting that whilst consumer behaviour has changed, footfall remains strong and there are resilient opportunities for yield: retail is back – and it will stay that way if the reorientation and innovative transformation of assets are consistently driven forward.

Digitalisation is more crucial than ever to our success. Ingo Fiß and Tobias Pickert demonstrated how we are working even more efficiently and sustainably using new technologies and through close partnerships with companies such as Microsoft and SAP:

- Thanks to modern CRM tools, digitised lease contracts and AI-supported applications, we can now quickly and precisely find the right spaces for the right retailers and realize letting opportunities more swiftly.

- And through the systematic digitalisation of property operations – from meter readings and defects management right through to a comprehensive CAFM system – we can reliably ensure the smooth operation of high-traffic properties and manage complex operational obligations despite varying local regulations.

The bottom line – as demonstrated by the panel discussion featuring Volker Kraft from ECE Real Estate Partners, Sandra Ludwig from JLL and Andreas Pfaff from Berlin Hyp, as well as the concluding remarks by ECE Group CEO Alexander Otto – is clear: retail is constantly evolving. But now more than ever, we need highly professional partners who are all pulling in the same direction!

We would like to thank all participants for the valuable exchange of ideas!

Egal ob Stammkunde oder Gelegenheitsbesucher, ob Jung oder Alt, Familie oder Single – Orientierung im Shopping-Center ist das A und O für eine positive Kundenerfahrung. Im Rahmen unserer “At Your Service”-Initiative haben wir uns auch die Bereiche Information und Orientierung vorgenommen. Ganz bewusst richten wir diese in unseren Retail-Immobilien an der Perspektive unserer Kund:innen aus: Eine klare, barrierefreie Wegeführung und eine kontrastreiche, optimal lesbare Beschilderung sorgen für eine bessere Orientierung und noch mehr Kundenzufriedenheit.